Gunnedah is set to host a handful of games at the upcoming Veterans Cricket State of Origin.
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The tournament will be run on Monday and Tuesday with Gunnedah hosting the over 50s games.
Tamworth will host the over 60s games while the over 70s matches will be played in Quirindi.
Plenty of people have been asking if the event will go ahead and Greg Kellett, one of the organisers, had the answer.
"It is, mate," Kellett told Australian Community Media on Tuesday.
"We're fine. We've got synthetic grounds as a back-up if required.
"It's on Monday and Tuesday and I think the council guys will be on [the pitch] as soon as they can and they'll have them ready. They've been pretty good all year and done a wonderful job for us."
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Rain has been falling in the region since early Monday morning but the clouds are expected to dry up by Thursday with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting sunny days through to Monday when the State of Origin begins.
Thirty-two teams - and 384 players - across three age groups will descend on the region after last year's event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Players will touch down on Sunday for a catch-up before things get serious on Monday for the two-day carnival.
"We're excited, it's awesome - all those words," Kellett said on the tournament going ahead.
"Once it gets here, we'll meet all Queensland counterparts on Sunday night, have a beer and then go and play the next day.
"Obviously we want to beat the banana benders - that's the plan, get in and have a dig."
While most games will be played during the day, Tamworth's No. 1 Oval and Gunnedah's Kitchener Park will host night games on Monday night.
"If anyone wants to come down, buy a steak or a sausage, and have a look at some of the best old cricketers around, they're welcome," Kellett said.
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Ben Jaffrey
Ben is a content curator and journalist for The Land. He has been with ACM since 2015 and first worked at The Area News and then at the Northern Daily Leader. Ben first joined ACM Agri as a digital journalist for all seven agricultural mastheads in 2022 before shifting to The Land full-time in 2023.
Ben is a content curator and journalist for The Land. He has been with ACM since 2015 and first worked at The Area News and then at the Northern Daily Leader. Ben first joined ACM Agri as a digital journalist for all seven agricultural mastheads in 2022 before shifting to The Land full-time in 2023.
